US2275651A - Chain-cutting mining machine - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1942. T. E. PRAY CHAIN-CUTTING MINING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR E. P ng 39PM ATTORNEY Filed June 14, 1941 March 10, 1942. T. E. PRAY -CUTTING MINING MACHINE- CHAIN Filed June 14, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvcu'rae E. P 5 A F'TORNEY March 10, 1942. T, E, PRAY 2,275,651

CHAIN-CUTTING MINING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l I I mvzu-roe lwmax @znugp ATTORNEY March 10, 1942. PRAY 2,275,651

GHAIN-CUTTING MINING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 3 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlla I I l I cfk i ATTORNEY March 10, 1942. T. E. PRAY CHAIN-CUTTING MINING MACHINE 5 Sheet s-Sheet 5 Filed June 14, 1941 WQ $0 No u%:--ro2 A TTOR NEY Patented Mar. 10, 1942 umrso STATES PATENT creme CHAIN-CUTTING MINING MACHINE Thomas E. Pray, Chicago, BL, assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 14, 1941, Serial No. 397,999

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in chain-cutting mining machines, and more particularly relates to a new and improved form of machine adapted to cut recesses in the mine wall, for receiving and supporting cross supporting timbers for the mine roof.

In coal mines the cross supporting timbers are frequently supported in recesses which are cut in the mine wall with a pick or drill; and which are commonly called hitches. Such a method of supporting the cross timbers effects a saving in posts as well as a saving in width of the entry, and is commonly used where conditions warrant the supporting of the roof on the side walls, but the cutting of these recesses has heretofore been a slow and laborious process, even with a drill especially designed for doing this.

The objects of my present invention are to remedy these difficulties by providing a simple and novel form of cutting machine of the cutter bar and chain type, particularly adapted to cut timber receiving recesses or hitches in the mine wall in anexpeditious and efficient manner.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a novel arrangement of cutter chain type of cutting machine including two pairs of verti cally spaced horizontally disposed cutter bars extending in diametrically opposite directions from each other, one of which bars is adapted to cut a timber receiving and supporting recess in one wall of the mine and the other of which bars is adapted to cut a similar timber receiving and supporting recess in the opposite mine wall.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a hitch cutting machine constructed in accordance with my invention, with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in substantially longitudinal section;

Figure 2 is an end View of the machine shown in Figure l, with the cutting mechanism disposed transversely of its supporting truck, and showing one pair of cutter bars cutting a timber receiving recess in the mine wall;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine shown in Figure l, drawn to substantially the same scale as Figure l, with certain parts broken away and certain otherparts shown in substantially horizontal section;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view showing certain details of the means for locking the cutting element from transverse movement with respect to the supporting truck;

Figure 5 is an end View of the machine shown in Figure l, with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in transverse section;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view with certain parts in longitudinal section showing certain details of the cutting mechanism;

Figure 7 is a partial fragmentary transverse sectional View taken through the cutting mechanism and showing certain details of construction thereof;

Figure 8 is a detail partial fragmentary transverse sectional view, showing certain details of the feeding mechanism and the slidable support for the cutting mechanism; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail View showing certain details of the mounting of one of the feeding cylinders.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the embodiment of my invention illustrated therein is shown as being mounted on a track mounted truck or main frame it, which may be in the form of a mine locomotive. Said main frame may be propelled about the mine on the mine rails by means of a motor I I, having geared connection with a pair of track wheels l2, l2, for driving said track wheels through the usual reduction gearing, which is not herein shown or described in detail since it is no part of my present invention.

The main frame It is provided with a top platform 15 having parallel spaced guides Hi, It extending transversely of said main frame and having a turntable ll guided for transverse movement thereacross. Said turntable, as herein shown, forms a support for a cutting element generally indicated by reference character I 9, which is mounted thereon, for vertical and horizontal movement with respect thereto.

The cutting element i9 includes one pair of parallel Vertically spaced cutter bars 29, 20 extending horizontally of said main frame in one direction, and another pair of paralleI vertically spaced cutter bars 2!, 2!, extending horizontally in a diametrically opposite direction from the cutter bars 2t, 20. A motor 22 is provided in the space between the inner ends of said cutter bars and forms a means for driving cutter chains 23, 23 about the cutter bars 23, 2t, and for driving cutter chains 24, 24 about the cutter bars 2|, 2!.

The turntable I! includes a base 25 having downwardly spaced, outwardly extending, gibbed guide members 26, 26, extending therefrom and adapted to have engagement with the guides l6, l6 (see Figure l). A spring-pressed locking member 29 is provided to engage any one of a plurality of notches 30, 39, formed along the spaced annular bearing members 33 and 34 are provided on the top side of said base and an annular flange 35 extends upwardly from said base through a central bored portion of said turning frame, to freelymount said turning frame on said base.-

The turning frame 3| is provided with a pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending side frame members 3'', 3!, which have supporting frame members 38, 38 mounted thereon, for vertical slidable movement with respect thereto (see Figures 3 and 5). Each of said supporting frame members is mounted for vertical movement along the insides of its associated side frame member and has outwardly extending end portions engaging opposite ends thereof. Re-

taining strips 39, 39 are secured to said end portiOnsand engage outer sides of said frame members, for holding said supporting frame members in slidable engagement with said side frame members. A channel 49 is mounted on the inside, of each side frame member and extends therealong and beyond opposite sides thereof in a horizontal direction. Said channels are so arranged that their fianges face each other and form a support for a cradle 4| which is slidably mounted on said channels and forms a sliding support for the cutting element l9.

The cradle 4| includes a pair of laterally spaced guide members 59, 59 extending longitudinally along said cutting element and extending over the upper and lower flanges of the channels 49, 49. Said guide members have facing gibbed retaining portions 69, 69, extending along the outer sides of said channels, for guiding said cutting element for slidable movement along said channels (see Figures 2, 7 and 8).

The turntable I! may be turned by power if desired, but the chief function of said turntable is to position the cutter bars 20, 29 and 2|, 2| transversely of the truck Ill during the cutting operation, and parallel with said truck during transportation, so for the purpose of simplicity said turntable is herein shown as being turned by hand. A spring-pressed pin 43 is mounted in the turning frame 3! and is adapted to engage any one of a number of spaced apertures 44, 44, formed in the base 25, to lock said turntable in its various desired positions of adjustment.

The means for vertically adjusting the cutting element I9 along the side frame members 37, 31 is similar to that shown and described in my prior Patent No. 2,220,274, so will not be herein shown and described in full detail. Said adjusting means includes two pairs of laterally spaced fluid pressure cylinders 46 and 41 (see Figures 1, 3 and 5) Each pair of said cylinders is herein shown as being cast in a single block, slidably mounted in an open central portion 48 of one of the side frame members 31, and guided therein for vertical movement with respect thereto ininwardly facing channelled guides 49, 49. A piston 59 in the cylinder 46, has a piston rod 5| extending upwardly therefrom. Said piston rod engages a bracket member 52, projecting outwardly from the support frame member 38. A piston 53 in the cylinder 46 has a depending piston rod 54, which is secured at its lower end to the bottom of said open portion of said side frame member.

When it is desired to elevate the cutting element I9, fluid under pressure is admitted to the head ends of the cylinders 46, 46. At the same time, fluid passes to the head ends of the cylinders 41, 41 through passageways 55, 55, connecting the head ends of the cylinders 46, 46 with the head ends of the cylinders 41, 41. Upon the admission of fluid under pressure to the head ends of the cylinders 46, 46, the pistons 50, 59 and piston rods 5!, 5| will move upwardly along said cylinders, to elevate the cutting element.

When the pistons 50, 59 reach the extreme upper end of their travel in the cylinders 46, 46,

fluid pressure on the head ends of the pistons 53,

element a further distance.

Fluid under pressure may also be admitted to the piston rod ends of the cylinders 46, 46. The piston rod ends of said cylinders are connected with the piston rod ends of the cylinders 41, 41 by means of passageways 56, 56 in the blocks for said cylinders. The purpose in admitting fluid under pressure to the piston rod ends of said cylinders is to control the lowering of said cutting element, and to hold pressure in the piston rod ends of said cylinders against pressure in the head ends of said cylinders to hold said cutting element in various fixed positions of vertical adjustment with respect to the side frame members 31, 31.

A fluid pump 51, mounted on the turning frame 3 I, serves to draw fluid from a fluid storage tank 58 and to supply fluid under pressure to the fluid pressure actuated parts of the apparatus (see Figures 1 and 3). Suitable piping and a suitable system of valves (not shown) is provided for controlling operation of the fluid pressure actuated parts of the apparatus. Said piping and system of valves may be of any ordinary type, well known to those skilled in the art, so arranged as to hold pressure in both ends of the cylinders 46, 46 and 41, 4! when it is desired to lock the cutting element in a fixed position during cutting, and is not herein shown or described in detail since it is no part of my present invention.

A fluid pressure cylinder 6|, mounted on the inside of the web of one channel 40, and a fluid pressure cylinder 62 mounted on the inside of the web of the opposite channel 49 are provided to reciprocably move said cutting element along said channels. Said cylinders are each of a similar construction, but one extends in one direction and the other extends in an opposite direction, so one cylinder may move the cutting element in one direction along said channels and the other cylinder may move said cutting element in the opposite direction along said channels. The cylinder 6| has a piston rod 63 extensible therefrom. Said piston rod has a sheave 64 rotatably mounted on a sheave mounting 65, which is mounted on the outer end of said piston rod. Said sheave mounting is slidably guided for movement along the lower flange of the channel 49 in aguide 66 (see Figure'8). A flexible member 61 is secured to a boss 68, projecting upwardly from said cylinder. Said flexible member extends from said boss around the sheave 64, backwardly along the piston rod 63 and cylinder BI, and is secured at its end opposite from said boss, to a lug 69, extending inwardly from the guide member 59, adjacent the end thereof opposite from the sheave 64. i

In a similar manner, a piston rod "Ill is extensible from the cylinder 62 and has a sheave ll mounted on its free end. A flexible cable 12 is secured at one of its ends to said cylinder and extends therefrom around the sheave H and backwardly along said piston and cylinder, and is secured at its opposite end to the guide member 59, adjacent the end thereof opposite from said sheave (see Figure 3).

The fluid connections to the cylinders iii and 62 are such that fluid may be admitted to the piston rod end of one cylinder as it is admitted to the head end of the other cylinder, in order to prevent binding between said guide members and channels, and are not herein shown or described since they are no part of my present invention. The admission of fluid under pressure to the head end of the cylinder 6! will thus move the cutting element [9 along the channels 40, 49 in one direction, to feed the cutter bars 2!, 2| and cutter chains 24 24 into the mine wall, and the admission of fluid under pressure to the head end of the cylinder 62 will move said cutting element along said channels in an opposite direction to feed the cutter bars 20, 29 and cutter chains 23, 23 into the opposite mine wall.

Referring now in particular to certain details of the cutting element l9 and the drive connections from the motor 22, for driving the cutter chains 23, 23 and 24, 24 around the respective cutter bars 20, 20 and 2!, 2!, a frame 15 is mounted between the guide members 59, 59 of the cradle 4| and is provided with an open central portion H5, within which the motor 22 is mounted. Said frame is also provided with inner end portions TI, 11, open to the ends of said frame on opposite sides of the open central portion and having laterally projecting bottom portions 1.8, 18, forming supports for the oppositely extending cutter bars 26, 29 and 2!, 2i, and forming a supporting means for the drive gearing for driving the cutter chains 23, 23 and 24, 24 about their respective cutter bars.

The cutter bars 20, 29 and 2 l, 2! are adjustably mounted on said bottom portions i8, 18 of said frame by means of bolts 19, 19 so that slack in the cutter chains may be taken up by take-ups generally indicated by reference character 80 (see Figures 3 and 6).

The drive from opposite ends of the motor 22 to each pair of cutter chains 23, 23 and 24, 24 includes bevel pinions 8!, 8| mounted on opposite ends of an armature shaft 82 of said motor. Said drive from said bevel pinions to each pair of cutter chains is the same, so the drive to one pair of cutter chains only need herein be described.

The bevel pinion Si meshes with a bevel gear 83, journaled on its hub in a lower housing member 35, secured to the bottom portion 18 of said frame (see Figure 6). A vertical shaft 86 extends through the hub of the bevel gear 83, and is journaled in said lower housing portion at its lower end on a ball bearing #31. The upper portion of said shaft extends through and is journaled in a support member 88. Said support member is secured to the underside of the bottom portion 18, and extends upwardly through the latter. A sleeve 89 is journaled on the support integrally with the upper end of said vertical shaft and is mounted within the sleeve 89. Said cap piece is slotted at its upper end. A key is adapted to be mounted in said slotted portion and extends within suitable slots formed in opposite sides of said sleeve 89, for rotatably driving said sleeve and the sprockets 92, 92 from said shaft. A jaw clutch member 99 is feathered on the lower end of said shaft, to selectively connect said bevel gear with said shaft and drive the cutter chains 23, 23 about the cutter bars 20, 29.

Referring now to the use and operation of the device of my invention, as shown in Figure 2, the truck 19 is moved along the entry by its own power to the place where it is desired to place the roof supporting timbers, with the cutter bars 23, 23 and 24, 22 extending longitudinally thereof, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. When it is desired to cut 'a pair of timber receiving recesses, or hitches, in opposite walls of the mine, the turntable ll may be turned so the horizontally extending cutter bars 29, 29 and El, 2| are positioned substantially perpendicular to the mine rails and to opposite ribs of the entry. The motor 22 may then be started and the cutter chains 23, 29 may be connected to be driven from one end of said motor. At the same time, fluid under pressure may be admitted to,the head end of the cylinder 82 and the piston rod end of the cylinder (it, for feeding the cutting element transversely of the main frame ill and causing the cutter chains 23, 23 to make an endwise cut in the coal face. Upon the completion of this cut, fluid under pressure may be admitted to the head end of the cylinder iii and the piston rod end of the cylinder 52, to withdraw the cutter chains 23,

23 from the rib and feed the cutter chains 24, 24 into the opposite rib, said last mentioned cutter chains being connected to be driven from said motor 22 as soon as they approach the opposite wall, and said first mentioned cutter chains being disconnected from said motor as soon as they have been completely withdrawn from their timber receiving recess.

It may be seen from the foregoing that a simplified form of apparatus has been provided, for quickly cutting timber receiving recesses in opposite ribs of a mine entry, which consists of a novel arrangement of cutter projecting from opposite ends of a drive motor; together with a novel support for said cutter bars permitting the cutting of one hitch in one rib as soon as the hitch in the opposite rib has been cut, and thus greatly facilitating the cutting of timber receiving recesses in opposite ribs of an entry.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not Wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the specific embediment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mining machine, a main frame, a cutting element slidably mounted on said main frame and including a cutter chain carrying outter bar extending horizontally from said main frame in one direction, another cutter chain carrying cutter bar extending horizontally from said main frame in a diametrically opposite direction, and power means for moving said cutting element in one direction for feeding one of said cutter bars in a direction to cut a timber receiving recess in one wall of a mine and for moving said cutting element in an opposite direction, to cut a timber receiving recess in an opposite wall of the mine.

2. In a mining machine, a main frame, a cutting element slidably mounted on said main frame and including a plurality of aligned cutter bars mounted on said main frame and extending therefrom in opposite directions from a common center, cutter chains guided for movement about said cutter bars, a motor, drive connections from said motor to said cutter chains, for driving said cutter chains about said cutter bars, and power means for moving said cutting element with respect to said main frame in one direction, to feed one of said cutter bars in an endwise direction into a mine wall, to cut a timber receiving notch therein, and in a diametrically opposite direction, for feeding said other cutter bar in an endwise direction into an opposite mine wall, to cut a timber receiving recess therein.

3. In a mining'machine, a main frame, a cutting element slidab-ly mounted on said main frame and including a plurality of horizontally disposed vertically spaced cutter chain carrying cutter bars extending in one direction, a plurality of horizontally extending vertically spaced cutter chain carrying cutter bars extending in a direction diametrically opposite from said first mentioned cutter bars, and power means for moving said cutting element with respect to said main frame in one direction to feed said cutter bars to cut a timber receiving recess in one wall of a mine and in a diametrically opposite direction to feed said cutter bars to cut a timber receiving recess in an opposite wall of the mine.

4. In a mining machine, a main frame, a cutting element slidably mounted on said main frame and including a plurality of horizontally disposed vertically'spaced cutter chain carrying cutter bars extending in one direction, cutter chains guided for orbital movement about said cutter bars, a plurality of horizontally extending vertically spaced cutter chain carrying cutter bars extending in a direction diametrically opposite from said first mentioned cutter bars, cutter chains guided for orbital movement about said cutter bars, a motor disposed between the inner ends of said cutter bars, and means driven by said motor for driving said cutter chains about said cutter bars.

5. In a mining machine, a main frame, a cutting element slidably mounted on said main frame and including a plurality of horizontally disposed vertically spaced cutter chain carrying cutter bars extending in one direction, cutter chains guided for orbital movement about said cutter bars, a plurality of horizontally disposed vertically spaced cutter chain carrying cutter bars extending in a direction diametrically opposite from said first mentioned cutter bars, cutter chains guided for orbital movement about said cutter bars, a motor disposed between the inner ends of said cutter bars, means driven by said motor and selectively operable to drive said cuting cradle mounted on said turntable, for verter chains about said cutter bars, and power operated means for moving said cutter bars at a feedtimber supporting recesses in a mine Wall adja-- cent the roof, a frame, a motor mounted on said frame for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, a pair of vertically spaced cutter bars projecting from one end of said motor, cutter chains guided for movement about said cutter bars and driven from one end of said motor about said cutter bars, a pair of vertically spaced outter bars projecting from the opposite end of said motor, cutter chains guided for movement about said cutter bars and driven from the opposite end of said motor, and means for rectilinearly moving said frame in a direction to feed two of said cutter bars to cut a timber supporting recess in one wall of the mine and in an opposite direction, to feed said other cutterbars to cut a timber supporting recess in an opposite wall of the mine.

7. In a mining machine, a track mounted truck, a turntable mounted thereon, a supporting and guiding cradle mounted on said turntable for vertical movement with respect thereto, and a cutting element mounted on said supporting and guiding cradle, for movement therealong, said cutting element including a pair of parallel vertically. spaced horizontally disposed chain carrying cutter bars, extending in one direction, and another pair of vertically spaced parallel chain carrying cutter bars extending in a diametrically opposite direction from said first mentioned cutter bars.

8. In a mining machine particularly adapted to cut timber receiving recesses in opposite ribs of a mine entry, a track mounted truck, a turn table mounted thereon, a supporting and guiding cradle mounted on said turntable, for vertical movement with respect thereto, and a cutting element mounted on said supporting and guiding cradle, for movement therealong, and said cutting element including a motor, a pair of vertically spaced parallel cutter bars extending from said motor in one direction, cutter chains guided for orbital movement about said cutter bars, a pair of vertically spaced parallel cutter bars extending from said motor in an opposite direction, cutter chains guided for orbital movement about said cutter bars, and selective drive connections to said cutter chains from opposite ends of said motor, for driving said cutter chains about said cutter bars.

9. In a mining machine particularly adapted to cut timber receiving recesses in opposite ribs of a mine entry, a track mounted truck, a turntable mounted thereon, a supporting and guidtical movement with respect thereto, and a cutting element mounted on said supporting and guiding cradle, for movement therealong, and said cutting element including a frame mounted on said cradle for slidable movement therealong, a pair of parallel vertically spaced chain carrying cutter bars mounted on said frame and extending therefrom in one direction, and another pair of parallel vertically spaced chain carrying cutter bars mounted on said frame and extending therefrom in a diametrically opposite direction, and means for moving said frame along said cradle in one direction, to feed one pair of said cutter chains endwise into a mine wall, to cut a rectangular timber supporting recess therein, and in an opposite direction, to feed another pair of said cutter chains endwise into a mine wall, to cut a rectangular timber supporting recess in the opposite wall thereof.

10. In a mining machine particularly adapted to cut timber receiving recesses in opposite ribs of a mine entry, a track mounted truck, a turntable mounted thereon, a supporting and guiding cradle mounted on said turntable, for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, and a cutting element mounted on said supporting and guiding cradle, for movement therealong, said cutting element including a frame slidably mounted on said cradle, a motor mounted on said frame, a pair of parallel vertically spaced cutter bars extending from said frame and motor in one direction, cutter chains guided for orbital movement about; said cutter bars, a pair of parallel vertically spaced cutter bars extending from said frame and motor in a direction diametrically opposite from said first mentioned cutter bars, cutter chains guided for orbital movement about said cutter bars, drive connections from opposite ends of said motor to said cutter chains, for driving said cutter chains about said cutter bars, means for moving said cutting element along said supporting and guiding cradle in one direction, to feed one pair of said cutter bars endwise into one rib of a mine entry, to cut a rectangular timber supporting recess therein, and other means for moving said cutting element along said supporting and guiding cradle in a, diametrically opposite direction, to feed said other pair of cutter bars endwise into the opposite rib of the mine entry, to cut a rectangular timber supporting recess therein.

11. In a mining machine particularly adapted to cut timber receiving recesses in opposite ribs of a mine entry, a truck, a turntable mounted on said truck for transverse slidable movement with respect thereto, a supporting and guiding cradle mounted on said truck for vertical movement with respect thereto, a cutting element mounted on said supporting and guiding cradle for movement therealong and including a frame, a motor mounted on said frame intermediate the ends thereof, a pair of parallel vertically spaced cutter bars extending horizontally from one end of said frame, each of said cutter bars having a cutter chain guided for orbital movement thereabout, another pair of parallel vertically spaced cutter bars extending horizontally from an opposite end of said frame in a direction diametrically opposite from said first mentioned cutter bars, each of said cutter bars having a cutter chain guided for orbital movement thereabout, selective drive connections from opposite ends of said motor to said cutter chains, means for vertically moving said cradle and holding it in various desired positions of elevation thereof, to position said cutter bars to cut a timber receiving recess along a mine roof, and means for moving said cutting element in opposite directions along said cradle at a feeding speed, for feeding said cutter bars into and withdrawing them from opposite ribs of a mine entry.

12. In a mining machine, a main frame, an elongated cutting element supported thereon and having cutter chain carrying cutter bars projecting at opposite ends thereof, and power means for feeding said cutting element endwise in opposite directions With respect to said main frame so as to insert said cutter bars endwise 7 into opposite Walls of the mine in mutually

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